What’s in my Makeup Bag?

For the last three or four years, I’ve applied my makeup just about the same way every day (bar a few product swaps). I only realised this recently; having worn quite heavy makeup all the way through high school (thanks, low confidence!), I’ve worked through some nightmare looks, and settled on one that I’m quite happy with. Here’s what I use to achieve my “everyday” look!

Pre-application

Primer is something I’ve used on-and-off through the years. Being a student, it spent some time on a list of things that were deemed “not a priority purchase”. However, recently I’ve been using Lancôme’s “La Base Pro”, which I can definitely say has made a big difference in the finished look of my foundation, as well as the length of time before I have to reapply. I might have to rethink that list!

Face

I’m not one of those people who likes to “enhance” their natural face with makeup! I would constantly apply layer-upon-layer of liquid foundation all over my face in an attempt to hide my freckles and blemishes – until I came across L’Oreal’s Infallible Total Cover Foundation last year. This stuff has worked like a dream! While the texture’s really light in the first place, the smallest amount also manages to give a great coverage; I use the shade “Natural Rose”, which I find matches my tone perfectly! Because of this, I only apply a smidge on any red areas or blemishes.

I then use MAC’S Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation, in shade NC20. This is a product I’ve used since I was about 15 – it’s one I’ve always had confidence in, as it was what I used all the way through my bad-teenage-acne years. I apply this all over my face to give a matte finish.

I loved the idea of contouring when it hit peak-trend – I hate the shape of my nose, and so the idea of being able to make it look a little thinner really appealed to me. But I always felt that I couldn’t master using the proper pencils, crayons and powders – so I started using bronzer in it’s place, and I find it so much better! I use Benefit’s Hoola bronzer on the sides of my nose and just under my cheekbones, and then lightly blend it.

Finally, I use the Tarte Showstopper Clay Palette for my highlighter. This is actually an eye and cheek palette, but I’m guilty of ignoring the other features of the product! The highlighter is in the shade “Champagne Pink”, and it’s amazingly pigmented and shimmery. I picked this up from QVC!

Brows

If I’m doing any other steps in my makeup routine, it means that my eyebrows NEED to be done too! They’re not the worst naturally, but they just look very odd and small otherwise. My go-to for this is Benefit’s Brow Zings; I’ve used this for around three years, and can’t see myself changing any time soon! I use the brow wax to slightly extend the ends of my brows, as well as outline them and make the shape a little bit thicker, and then lightly fill them in from around two-thirds of the way in to the end. I then use the powder to fill in the whole brow.

Eyes

I like to apply my mascara before anything, just because it always ends up being the messiest and it’s heartbreaking having to wipe away my eyeshadow to fix any smudges! For years I used Lancôme’s Hypnôse or Benefit’s They’re Real!, but recently I’ve come to love L’Oreal’s Miss Baby Roll mascara (which I’ve reviewed here!). I’ve got quite lucky with having long enough eyelashes – though I would like longer! – so my main concern is always volume, which this manages well. I apply to both my upper and lower lashes, and so I try to avoid them ending up looking spider-like!

I then use Urban Decay’s Naked eyeshadow palette to give myself a neutral eyelid. To do this, I simply use the shade “Naked”, sometimes with a little bit of “Sidecar”. I also tend to add a little bit of “Buck” in the crease.

Next is eyeliner! I’ve used Soap and Glory’s Supercat Skinny liner for around two years now, and I still love it just as much as I did then. I could never achieve flicks with any other liners I’d tried – using the pen made it so much easier to control, and the size really helps to make it more precise! It also never flakes, and has great staying power.

Finally, I use my Naked eyeshadow palette once more to blend a little of the “Buck” shade under my lower lash line. I hate not having anything below my lower lashes, but I got so sick of using pencil liner! I much prefer the look eyeshadow gives in it’s place.

Lips

My lipstick is probably the only product I switch around all the time. I went through a craze for the “Koko K” shade from Kylie Jenner’s Lip Kits for around a year back in 2016, but then I ended up discovering the NYX Lip Lingerie range and went mad for that instead! Currently, I wear the shade “Corset” from that line. I also still wear the MACXMARIE lipstick I previously reviewed from time-to-time, too!

Lovely post! I’ll definitely be trying out some of these products and techniques, particularly using shadow on my lower lash line! I find eyeliner looks way too heavy so I haven’t been using anything, but I’ll give it a go for sure!

I tried the Loreal foundation before, I loved it then it just wouldn’t sit on my face at all which is such a shame as I loved the coverage on it!
Desperate to try the Miss Baby Roll mascara though, do love a mascara which makes your lashes stand out.
Same fab products!

That’s funny, the first time I tried the foundation it was really weird too! It was like coming off when I was applying it, but I’ve never had anything like it since I bought a new one – maybe there’s been some bad batches? The mascara is amaaazing! 💕

I am quite interested in buying the Loreal Infallible foundation. ☺️I understand the feeling of having to make sure your mascara does not smudge around your eye 🙀 its the most annoying thing ever. Haha

I love a good makeup post! Super cute pink theme by the way. I haven’t tried the Mac Powder foundation but I’d heard amazing things about it. And I totally relate to you with contouring the nose, it makes such a difference to my face!